Bembridge Windmill

BEMBRIDGE SZ68NW Bembridge Windmill 1352-0/2/1 16/04/53 I

Windmill, c1700. Tower type. Built of Isle of Wight stone rubble, the south side cement rendered, with wooden cap and sails. 3 stages. The lowest stage has 2 cambered stone arched openings, the top has square stone openings. Wooden cogged eaves cornice. Boat-shaped wooden cap, fantail and four sweeps. Interior has a remarkable survival of early C18 wooden machinery. The bin floor has the cap and turning gear, the great brake wheel and windshaft turning the sack hoist, the wallower and grain bins. The stone floor has the alarm bell, damsel, runner stone, bed stone, tun and grain hopper. The machine floor has the bran shuttle, tun and great spur wheel. The building was sketched by JMW Turner in 1795 and was in continuous use until 1897. From 1897 to 1915 it was used only for cattle feed. In 1962 it was taken over by the National Trust. The steps between the first and second floor have the inscription 'E Beker 1746 AC' but other inscriptions have been found which could be 1701 although this is not at all clear. The mill accords with the date of the barn to the mill house, the 3 buildings probably being erected about the same time. (NATIONAL TRUST HANDBOOK).

Listing NGR: SZ6398087476